Grading Steelers’ 2nd Day Picks
Sep 7, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt (7) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
If you like optimism you should probably close this article now, because this will consist of me ripping the Steelers’ day two picks to shreds. Look don’t get me wrong, I will be rooting for these guys to succeed harder than anybody and I hope to God that this draft turns out to be a good one for the Steelers, but I just don’t see that happening. They over drafted two players and only managed to fill one need. Ben Roethlisberger desperately needs a second wide receiver to complement Antonio Brown, but after three rounds of the draft he still doesn’t have one. Big Ben is your best chance to win a Super Bowl in the near future and you gave him zero help except for a running back who will be lucky to get 5 touches a game. Pathetic. Now with the ranting out of the way, let’s get to the grades.
Round 2: Pick 46
The Pick: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
The Steelers’ front office actually managed to fill a need in the second round, they just did it with a player who should have gone in the mid or late third round. Tuitt racked up eye popping stats in two years ago, but he had a broken foot and sports hernia this past year which limited his capability. His weight ballooned to 330 pounds, which is unheard of for a five technique defensive end. The thing that makes him unworthy of this pick is the tape. Despite putting up nice stats two years ago, his tape leaves many things to be desired. He fails to get of the line quickly and when he does he often stands up too tall and fails to get leverage. Pretty much all he is good for is occupying one blocker and holding him on the offensive line. That isn’t much help when your nose tackle is only 300 pounds and only occupies one blocker himself. The only think we can hope is that John Mitchell and Dick LeBeau can work their magic and turn him into a legitimate starter in the NFL, don’t be too optimistic though. I just don’t see it happening.
The Grade: C-
Round 3: Pick 97 (Compensatory)
Sept 8, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes running back Dri Archer runs a kick off return against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
The Pick: Dri Archer, RB, Kent State
If you though I was bashing the Tuitt pick, you haven’t seen anything yet. The Archer pick was abominable, incomprehensible, and last but not least, pathetic. The Steelers’ front office over drafted a player that also didn’t fill a need. Yes, I know he was the fastest player at the combine, but I don’t really care. He’s a guy you have to manufacture touches for, and you simply don’t draft those players on day 2. Period. I feel like they forced this pick because they wanted a guy who could be what the team wanted Chris Rainey to be when they drafted him. The good news is that Archer is better than Rainey, the bad news is that it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that the Steelers spent a third round pick on a guy who will be lucky to get 5 offensive touches a game. I don’t care how good of a returner he is, that doesn’t make up for the lack of production he will provide on offense. Unless he can average about ten yards per carry this pick won’t be worth it. Big Ben needs red zone targets, not necessarily tall ones, but guys who can catch the ball in tight spaces. With Archer you have a guy who can’t be either. Sigh.
The Grade: D+
If the Steelers want to win another Super Bowl with Big Ben at the helm they need to get him help at receiver and tight end, and as former NPC writer Dom Di Tolla has said all draft long, every time they pass up a receiver they slap him in the face. These picks just don’t make sense no matter how you look at it. I never though I’d say this, but Kevin Colbert needs to go, and he needs to go fast. The Steelers need to get a GM who understands that if you want to win you need to draft guys who will make contributions. Drafting an overrated defensive end and a player who doesn’t even have a clear position and will be lucky to get 5 offensive touches a game isn’t going to cut it.